Geology 102 - Geology of Planet Earth Lab
Syllabus – Spring 2016
Instructor: Craig Stewart
Office: LO 1224
Office Hours: MW 11am - Noon, or by appointment
Email: craig.stewart.311@my.csun.edu
Course Information
Location: EH 2028
Class Day/Time: M 8:00-10:45; Class Number: 16118
Required Lab Manual: Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology, 3rd edition, by Allan Ludman
and Stephen Marshak
Last day to drop class through SOLAR: Feb 12. NO ONLINE DROPS ARE PERMITTED
AFTER THIS DATE.
Course Objective
This course compliments the Geology 101 lecture course; you should be able to apply the
concepts learned in the lecture class to the lab exercises. Topics covered within this lab will
include: the geologic timescale, rock and mineral identification, plate tectonics, topographic maps,
natural resources, and natural hazards.
Course Requirements
This is a hybrid lab class; this means that some labs, as well as supplemental information for the
class will be online (Moodle). You must have access to a computer and the internet, and you
must check Moodle and your email regularly for updates and communications regarding this
class. Attendance is mandatory for the in class labs; you will not be able to make up a lab,
no exceptions.
Grading
Your grade in this class will be based off of the quality of your completed lab assignments (62.5%),
quizzes (17.5%), final exam (20%), attendance, and participation. See grading scale below.
Labs (25 points each - total of 250 points): You are responsible for reading through each lab
prior to class. There will be one or two labs per class (see lab schedule below). If two lab activities
are assigned on one day, they will be graded as one. In-class labs will be due at the end of each
class. If you miss labs you are likely to fail this course. All labs will be completed in groups of 4
to 6 students. One lab will be turned in for each group. If you disagree with any answer(s) the
group wishes to submit, you may include your own answer(s) on the lab and will be graded on it
separately from your group. A few of the labs are on Moodle; these labs will be due by 11:55pm
the day they are scheduled. You may work with your lab partners on Moodle labs; however, each
person must submit their own lab on Moodle. Moodle labs will be available beginning no later
than 3 days before the class it is due. There are no make-ups for missed labs (in class or on
Moodle). However, your lowest lab will be dropped.
Quizzes (25 points each - total of 75 points): All quizzes will be on Moodle, they will be
available the morning they are scheduled (see Lab Schedule below), and will close at 11:55pm
the following day. The quizzes will be cumulative (as indicated on the lab schedule below) and
will consist of 10 to 20 questions. You will be allotted 30-45 minutes for each quiz, and you will
have 2 attempts. These are open book/note quizzes. There are no make-ups on quizzes.
Final Exam (100 points): The final will be a cumulative test on topics covered in this lab and will
be on the last day of class.
Grading Scale
A (>92%)
A- (90-91.9%)
B+ (88-89.9%)
B (82-87.9%)
B- (80-81.9%)
C+ (78-79.9%)
C (72-77.9%)
C- (70-71.9%)
D+ (68-69.9%)
D (62-67.9%)
D- (60-61.9%)
F(<60%)
Incompletes “I” will not be given in this class.
Lab Schedule
Date
Lab #
Jan 25
Topic
Syllabus Review and Class Intro
Lab 1 – Observing & Measuring Earth Materials & Processes
In class
Feb 1
1
Feb 8
2
Lab 2 – Plate Tectonics and the Origin of Magma
In class
Feb 15
3
Lab 3 - Mineral Properties, Uses, and ID
In class
Feb 22
4&6
Lab 4 - Rock-Forming Processes & the Rock Cycle
Lab 6 - Sedimentary Rocks, Processes, & Environments (Rock ID)
Quiz 1 - Labs 1, 2, 3, 4, & 6 (on Moodle, Due Feb 5 11:55pm)
In class
Feb 29
5&7
Lab 5 - Igneous Rocks & Volcanic Hazards (Rock ID)
Lab 7 - Metamorphic Rocks, Processes and Resources (Rock ID)
In class
March 7
8
Lab 8 - Dating of Rocks, Fossils, & Geologic Events
In class
March 14
9 & 10
Lab 9 - Topographic Maps, Aerial Photographs, & Satellite Images
Lab 10 – Geologic Structures, Maps & Block Diagrams
Quiz 2 - Labs 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 (on Moodle, Due Mar 18 11:55pm)
In class
March 21
No Class – Spring Break!
March 28
No Class – Cesar Chavez Holiday!
April 4
April 11
Lab 11 - Stream Processes
Lab 12 - Groundwater
11 & 12
Lab 14 – Dryland Landforms – Death Valley Lab
Lab 15 – Coastal Processes, Landforms, Hazards, & Risks
14 & 15
Quiz 3 - Labs 11,12,14, & 15 (on Moodle, Due Apr 18 11:55pm)
Moodle*
Moodle*
Lab 16 – Earthquakes/seismology
In class
April 25
Review for Final exam
In class
May 2
FINAL EXAM – Lab final is the week prior to University finals
In class
April 18
16
*Labs denoted as ‘online’ are subject to change
Additional Course Information
Academic Dishonesty: Cheating will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to
cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and altering your answers after
I have graded your work (Please refer to Appendix E of the University Catalog). If I find any
evidence of academic dishonesty, it will result in a failing grade for the class and
notification to the Dean of Students, which may result in disciplinary action.
Attendance and Participation: It is essential that you attend all labs and that you arrive on time.
Lab and quiz make-ups are not allowed. At the end of the semester, if you fall between grades,
I will take your attendance and participation into account.
Class Conduct: The use of cell phones and other electronic devices (iPods, MP3 players, etc…)
are not permitted in class. Please do not bring food into the class, you may bring drinks into class,
but please be careful. Be respectful of your classmates; refrain from talking while I am addressing
the class. If you are disruptive during class, I will ask you to leave, at which point you will turn in
what you have completed of your lab whether you are finished or not. This lab will be graded as
is and docked a full grade.
Note: This syllabus is subject to change